Explosion connector

ABSTRACT

An explosion connector for joining wires, cables, and the like, including an inner deformable shell having a bore with at least one opening into the bore to receive the wires, cables, and the like, a generally nondeformable outer shell, and an explosive located in a chamber between the shells. The outer generally nondeformable shell is folded over the inner deformable shell at the opening into the inner shell to seal the explosive-containing chamber.

United States Patent 1 13,592,957

[72] inventor David T. James [56] References Cited Kali UNITED STATESPATENTS [211 P 5,508 3,364,304 H1868 Modrey 174 94 [221 Fl'ed P 91 93,483,311 12/1969 McDonald 174/87 D1v1s10n 0i Ser \o. 827.139. Ma 21.l96 3.4833 l2 12/1969 McDonald et al" 174/87 abandoned, which is acontlnuation of S No, 612,655. Jan. 26, 1970 Primary Examiner- DarrellL. Clay Patented Juy 3 971 AttorneyParker,Carter& Markey 9 [73] AssigneeIdeal Industries, Inc.

ABSTRACT: An explosion connector for joining wires, ca- EXPLOSION C()NNI CTOR bles, and the like, including an inner deformable shell havinga I Chimflnnwmg bore with at least one opening into the bore to receivethe [S2] U.S.CI 174/87, wires, cables, and the like, a generallynondeformable outer 29/628, 174/94 R,339/276E shell, and an explosivelocated in a chamber between the [5 1] Int. Cl H02g 15/08 shells. Theouter generally nondeformable shell is folded over 0 "p k f u 174/87,the inner deformable shell at the opening into the inner shell 341 9 339275 E, 7 5 37 to seal the explosive-containing chamber.

EXPLOSION CONNECTOR This is a division of application, Ser. No. 827,130,filed May 21, 1969, which'was a continuation of application, Ser. No.612,655, filed Jan. 30, l967,and now abandoned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is concerned with an explosionconnector for wires, cables, and the like and more specifically with aconnector using an inner deformable shell and an outer generallynondeformable shell.

Objects may be found in the following specification, claims, anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is illustrated more orless diagrammatically in I the following drawings wherein:

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows a longitudinalcross-sectional view of a connector ll of this invention intended forjoining two or more wires, rods or cables, and the like together in likeor unlike combinations in a crimping relationship. The connector 11includes a cap 13 of insulating material such as plastic having agenerally central bore 15.closed at one end by a wall 17 and having anopening 19 at the opposite end thereof. The cap includes an integraldiverging funnel-shaped member 21 leading to the opening 19. Positionedinside the bore of cap 13 is a metal shell 23 having a central bore 25which may be closed at one end by a wall 27 and which has an opening 29at the op posite end thereof with the walls and openings of the cap andshell respectively positioned adjacent one another. Shell 23 is formedso that it is generally nondeformable.

A second shell 31, preferably more deformable than the first shell, ispositioned inside the bore 25 ofthe first shell. The second may be mademore deformable than the first shell through the use of a materialhaving a lower elastic limit than the material of the first shell, orthrough the use of a thinner material, or through the use of a materialhaving a configuration more conducive to deformation.

The second shell is also formed with a central bore 32 which is open atleast at one end thereof with .this opening 33 being positioned adjacentthe opening 29 of the outer shell 23. The bore 32 is made sufficientlylarge in cross section to receive wires 34 and 35, shown in FIG. 2,positioned side by side in overlapping relation. The opposite end of theshell 31 may be closed by a wall 36. At least a portion of the shell 31is spaced inwardly of shell 23 to provide a chamber or cavity 37 betweenthe shells. This chamber or cavity is sealed adjacent the opening of theshells at 39. Sealing of the chamber is accomplished as shown in thedrawings by bending the outer the defiagrating type and may be gunpowderof the doublebase" type, which contains nitrocellulose and nitroglycerinor may be straight nitrocellulose. This type of explosive is readilyignited by a spark or a flame or other source of heat but not by anordinary shock as might be produced by dropping the connector on a hardsurface such as a floor. A detonating type of explosive ma also be usedbut would require a thicker externa shell 23 or the same amount ofdeformation of the inner and outer shells. The explosive may be selectedto be initiated by shock, spark, flame, heat, friction, or electricityto suit a specific designed purpose. Explosive combinations may includedetonating, deflagrating, and priming mixtures in various proportions orany two of the foregoing may be used as the end use, commercialconsiderations, and manufacturing case may dictate. The amount ofexplosive charge may be varied depending upon the cross-sectional areasof the wires to be connected, but it should be sufficient, uponexplosion, to deform the inner shell 31 into wire-crimping contact withthe smallest combined cross-sectional area of wires proposed to beconnected.

A primer 45 for igniting the explosive 43 is located in the chamber 37and in contact with the explosive. Conductors 47 and 49 may be providedto extend from the primer to the ex terior of the connector 11 throughopenings (not shown) in the shell 31 or through the joint at the openend 33 of the shell 31. The conductors 47 and 49 may be connectedrespectively to a source of electrical energy such as a battery 55. Thiscircuit may be closed by a switch 57 to ignite the primer.

The use, operation, and function of this invention are as follows:

The explosion connector 11 of this invention is designed to preventblowout of the chamber 37 upon ignition of the explosive 43. The foldedportion of the outer shell resists deformation while not interferingwith the deformation of the inner shell.

While a preferred form of the invention has been shown and describedherein, it should be understood that suitable additions, alterations,and variations may be made without departing from the inventionsfundamental theme. The scope of the invention should be limited only bythe claim attached hereto.

I claim:

1. A connector for joining at least two wires or the like, including:

a deformable inner member having a central bore adapted to receive atleast two wires or the like in overlapping side-by-side relationship,

at least one opening into said bore,

a generally, nondeformable member enclosing and spaced from at least aportion of said deformable member to fonn a chamber therebetween,

said outer generally nondeformable member being turned in over the edgeof said deformable member to form a seal for said chamber,

an explosive in said chamber and of sufficient quantity, when exploded,to deform said deformable member into physical contact with said wiresand said wires into crimping engagement with one another, and

means to ignite said explosive.

1. A connector for joining at least two wires or the like, including: adeformable inner member having a central bore adapted to receive atleast two wires or the like in overlapping side-byside relationship, atleast one opening into said bore, a generally, nondeformable memberenclosing and spaced from at least a portion of said deformable memberto form a chamber therebetween, said outer generally nondeformablemember being turned in over the edge of said deformable member to form aseal for said chamber, an explosive in said chamber and of sufficientquantity, when exploded, to deform said deformable member into physicalcontact with said wires and said wires into crimping engagement with oneanother, and means to ignite said explosive.